Hello I am a bit frazzled right now...it is 1:07 pm and I just got to Jerusalem and am in the old part of Jerusalem...on the Via Dolorosa in the Muslim quarter....but I have to rest and calm down and get my bearings.  The last 36 hours have been fascinating!

Friday night Simon, Suzanne and I went out to dinner and went to bed early.  We woke up early on Saturday at 6:30 and had breakfast at our hotel.  We then headed to Petra at 7:30....words and even my photos cannot describe what Petra was like.  Petra is by far the most fascinating place I have been to...even more than Machu Picchu or Tikal.  Perhaps because I had lower expectations of this site.  Petra is massive...I thought it was that one famous building.  But it is miles and miles of ruins and hiking trails.   It was built about 250 BC by the Nabateans.  We did one killer hike and roamed the trails and ruins until 4:30 pm at sundown.  We also met Bedouins and that was very eye opening.  One Bedouin Child...Mahmout was 5 years old.   His mother gave us some tea and Mahmout sat with us.   His clothes were soiled, he had flies on his head and ears and was just a sweetheart.  WE gave him some fruit and pita bread and he was very grateful.   I was having a moment of how grateful I am that I was born in the right country at the right time to enjoy life as much as I do.   For I know that Mahmouts future is not that bright.  I am truly blessed.   In our hiking we came across dead mule carcass and goat carcass, which was a stark reminder of the harshness of the desert.  I could go on and on about Petra but I still wouldn't do it justice.  After Petra we made the long journey home 4 house back to Amman.  WE stopped at a roadside cafe for 3 coffees and the guy there said the coffee would be free if I gave him 1/2 pack of Marlboros...which I did.  It was kind of fun to barter and not use cash.  We got home about 9 pm and Simon made us dinner and I went to bed.

I woke up this morning and the next adventure began.   I said goodbye to Susan because she had to go to work.  Simon walked me to the taxi stand and I hitched a ride with a taxi to the Jordanian Border.  I have heard the crossing is difficult and it wasn't as difficult as I expected...it was interesting and intense.  I had to  get out of the taxi on the Jordan side....clear customs and then take a bus over the River Jordan to the Israeli side.  Here is where the real fun started...I went through numerous checks and questions and they separate you from your luggage.  I then waited an hour for them to call me and go through their questioning and search of my bag.   They check each individual like this.   They went through every single article I had in my bag.  I then had to go to customs and immigration and was questioned endlessly...why was I alone?  Where was I going?  What was I doing?  How long would I be here?  Who was I staying with?   Prove that I have a ticket to leave.  Everyone was nice...it was just grueling.  I am afraid that someday the US will be this tight with security...so I better get used to it.   From there I had to exit the terminal and exchange my Jordanian Dinar into Israeli Shekels.  There were so many flies and commotion I was worried I was going to get swindled.  I then had to find a way to get to Jerusalem so I found a van that took 10 people at a time.   We then drove toward Jericho and through Palestinian West Bank.  WE then had to go through another security check as we left West bank into Israel.  Then they dropped me off at the Damascus gate of the old city.....It was hot, I didn't know where I was, my back pack weighs 50 pounds, I am tired, hungry and don't know where to go....

So that is where I leave you...I am in Jerusalem. I have two contacts to call but it is always a chore trying to find a phone and how to use it.  So I figured I would take a break for a while and email until I cool down and calm down and get my bearings.  But it has been a great experience....I have one more week left of travel and I am not even tired of hustling here and there, living out of a suitcase. I was nervous about this trip...but thus far it has proven to exceed my expectations and has truly opened me up to a new culture and new part of the world.  

I hope all is well with you.  I will write again when I get more settled in Jerusalem.  The plan is to stay here until Thursday and then head to my final destination of Tel Aviv.  I will be making pilgrimages from Jerusalem to The Christian Sites, Masada, Dead Sea, etc.  I hope all is well with you.  Take care.